(May 29, 1961)

In advance of meeting with Ben-Gurion, President Kennedy is advised
to pressure Israel on visits to Dimona and to discuss a U.S.-Soviet
declaration on the Mideast.

SUBJECT
Specific answers to your questions of May 29 (Ben Gurion)

1. We have an agreement with Ben Gurion not to announce
the visit of the scientists to the Israeli reactor without his approval.
Talbot would be very pleased if you could get him to release us from
this commitment, at least far enough for us to inform Arab leaders that
you have made this successful investigation, when you next write them.
It would be even better if he would allow the scientists to make their
own public statement, and of course best of all would be if he would
now authorize a visit by neutral scientist. Moreover, we want to press
upon him our hope that visits of this kind may be conducted, because
while the reactor is clean as a whistle today, it could be turned in
a dirty direction at any time.

2. At the last count, Nasser was said to have about
36 MIGs, but this is not a hard figure and if we get better dope it
will be sent on tomorrow.

3. I attach an important message from Diefenbaker and
a memorandum of comment from the Department of State about Ben Gurion's
visit./2/ As you will see, Ben Gurion would like to have a joint US-USSR
declaration guaranteeing the territorial integrity and independence
of all Mid-Eastern states. Diefenbaker thinks it is not a bad idea.
State strongly disapproves of our getting into it. It seems to them
certain that both the Arabs and the Soviet Union would exploit any initiative
of this sort, and they particularly hope that you will not give Ben
Gurion any encouragement upon which he might float the rumor that the
U.S. is friendly to this proposal. Attached is a possible answer to
Diefenbaker/3/ which you might give to Talbot in New York for transmission
if you approve of if. He will be there for your meeting with Ben Gurion.

/2/On May 28, President Kennedy had received a message
from Canadian Prime Minister Diefenbaker, who had held talks with Ben
Gurion in Canada prior to Ben Gurion's visit to the United States. (Department
of State, Central Files, 033.84A42/5-2861)

/3/Not further identified. In a May 29 memorandum from
Battle to Bundy, the Department of State advised that it would be unwise
to pursue such a statement at that time and forwarded a suggested text
for a brief note of appreciation from Kennedy to Diefenbaker. (Ibid.,
611.80/5-2961) See Supplement, the compilation on Israel.